~ cobwebs from Udolpho

Author Archives: agothicheroine

Another example from the “let’s pretend there’s a perfectly logical solution to that amazing scene at the end of the last chapter” school.

“To avoid the too often repeated subterfuge of the romantic historian, in straining every natural incident to produce amazing revolutions and critical (not to say impossible) events, it will be necessary to trace those which brought together the two beings involved, as it were, in similar circumstances, so far, at least, as the vindictive and cruel spirits of their merciless persectutors could effect; and to do this, we must advert to the situation in which we left Gustavus, as ell as touch upon those scenes in which he had formerly borne an active part.”

and yes, that is all a single sentence! From Swedish Mysteries by Anna Maria Mackenzie, Minerva Press, 1801.

How much more important it sounds to be a romantic historian rather than a mere novelist.

Just discovered that the latest edition of that admirable online journal Studies in Gothic Fiction has appeared.

I must admit to having been rather quiet here in recent months, having escaped briefly from the castle to pursue other burning interests, however the mysterious discovery of this volume has drawn me back into my rightful home.

There is no indication on the website as to when it was published, so for all I know I am presenting old news; but I find there are all of eight fascinating articles, all lovingly presented in pdf form, and find that sufficiently exciting to put before my readers.

I have, so far, printed off Jessica Rich’s contribution on “Propriety, Property and Passion: The Emergence of the Undisciplined Woman from the Mysteries of Udolpho to Zofloya” and Christina Nation’s “A Re-examination of the Feminine in The Monk” for reading on the train tonight.

The remainder shall surely follow. They are undoubtably equally noteworthy, and the only reason I haven’t included the full contents herewith is that the website wouldn’t allow me to cut and paste the list in, and I’m just way too busy/lazy to sit here typing them all into this post.

My only gripe is that there is no biographical information provided concerning the authors, nor anything to indicate their particualr experience or expertise. I assume google shall have to come to the rescue here, though its a shame to have to resort to such means.

Just taking a sneaky peek at another of Mrs Smith’s books – the Caledonian Bandit

In a short, breathless opening chapter, that reads much like one of the more exciting episodes of Hollyoaks, she has managed to kill off, mainly to untimely deaths, five characters, whilst allowing a sixth to survive a near drowning.

We have lost Alexander, the favourite son of Lord Duncaethal. In love with and beloved by the mysterious, beautiful orphan Agnes, though unwillingly betrothed to the haughty heiress of Cathlode, he dies in battle.